Too Much Food

Overfeeding and Excess Nutrients in Chilli Plants

Overfeeding your chilli plant can cause more harm than good, leading to nutrient imbalances, stress, and even poor pod production. Understanding the signs and knowing how to correct them is key to maintaining healthy plants.

The NPK Value of Chilli Focus is very low - see our feed page here - as such if you add more nutrients to the compost it can be detrimental

Signs of Overfeeding

1. Yellowing Leaves: Often starting at the edges and moving inward.

2. Leaf Burn: Brown, crispy edges caused by excess salts in the soil.

3. Stunted Growth: Too many nutrients can inhibit root and overall plant development.

4. Excessive Leaf Growth: The plant focuses on foliage rather than flowers or pods.

5. Salt Crust on Soil: A white residue on the soil surface is a clear sign of over-fertilisation.

Bone Meal and Chicken Manure

Bad, very bad for chilli plants, it is too strong in its concentration of nutrients, if you do wish to add some, add very little and make sure its spread throughout the pot evenly - no clumps

Toxic Soil for Roots

If there is too much feed in the soil the nutrients will become crystallised, which block the roots abilities to soak up nutrients causing yellow burnt and curling leaves as it leaves the plant stressed

See our Feed page here for best feeding regiment

 

Correcting Overfeeding

1.  Flush the Soil:

   • Gently flush the soil with plain water to remove excess nutrients.

   • Use lukewarm, chlorine-free water and let it drain thoroughly. - Water from the top and wash the soil through the bottom of the pot

2.  Repot with Fresh Soil:

   • If flushing isn’t enough, repot the plant in fresh, balanced soil.

   • Choose a well-draining mix to avoid further stress.

3.  Stop Feeding Temporarily:

   • Halt all fertiliser applications until the plant shows signs of recovery.

4.  Monitor Watering:

   • Avoid overwatering, as this can exacerbate salt build up and nutrient uptake.

Preventing Overfeeding

1.  Follow Fertiliser Guidelines:

   • Use fertilisers formulated for chillies or vegetables, and stick to recommended amounts.

2.  Use Diluted Fertiliser:

   • Start with a weaker solution (half strength) to avoid overwhelming the plant.

3. Feed Only When Necessary:

   • Chilli plants generally need more feeding during flowering and pod development stages.

4. Test Your Soil:

   • Use a soil testing kit to measure nutrient levels and adjust feeding accordingly.

Need Help?

If you’re unsure about your plant’s needs or still experiencing issues, feel free to contact us for personalised advice.